Container printing machine and method of printing

ABSTRACT

High-speed printing or decorating apparatus capable of printing information and decoration in a variety of colors on container sidewalls and the like, and with quality half tones and fine type, including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of circumferentially spaced mandrel lever assemblies with generally tangentially disposed, laterally projecting mandrels thereon mounted on each side of the drum &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;in line&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; with a rotary printing drum having offset printing blankets on its peripheral face which are revolved past the mandrel drum at a printing station; container supply and separating mechanism for individually moving containers to a position opposite the peripheral path of the mandrels; and endless transfer conveyor mounted opposite the peripheral path of travel of the mandrels and carrying cam-controlled pusher members which follow the arcuate path of the mandrels and at the same time move toward the mandrel drum to push containers endwise onto the mandrels upstream of the printing station; and endless transfer conveyor mounted opposite the peripheral path of travel of the mandrels downstream of the printing station and carrying cam-controlled suction cup, container removing members, for engaging the end walls of the containers, which follow the arcuate path of the mandrels and remain squared with the ends of the containers while pulling them endwisely off the ends of the mandrels and depositing them on discharge conveyor mechanism; valve mechanism for selectively communicating vacuum and air pressure sources with each mandrel for aiding in drawing the containers onto the mandrels and removing them therefrom; mechanism connected with the valve mechanism and sensitive to atmospheric pressure at a time when the vacuum source is communicating with a particular mandrel to sense that no container is on the mandrel and to actuate a particular mandrel lever assembly to remove the mandrel from &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;print&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position as it moves to the printing station; mechanism for supplying ink to the leading ends of the printing blankets and lacquer to the trailing ends thereof so that the ink applied may be immediately protected by a fast drying lacquer; and drive step means on the printing drum adjacent each blanket and of greater thickness than the blankets for spinning the containers through a controlled number of revolutions relative to the blankets when the mandrels reach the printing station.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Edward J. Russell Gladwin; GaylordW. Brown, Beaverton; Dennis J. Dorman, Coleman, all of Mich. [21] Appl.No. 708,690 [22] Filed Feb. 27, 1968 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73]Assignee Brown Machine Company of Michigan, Inc.

Beaverton, Mich.

[54] CONTAINER PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING 40 Claims, 22Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 101/40, 101/247, 198/22 R, 214/1 BA, 214/1 BS, 279/3,l18/46,118/230,1l8/233 [51] Int. Cl B411 17/22, B65g 47/86 [50] FieldofSearch 101/38-40, 35, 247; 118/46, 230,500, 232, 233; 198/22, 25, 179,210, 23, 20, 21; 214/1 B, 1 BS; 279/3; 271/56 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 3,016,153 1/1962 Porterfield 214/1 2,100,85211/1937 .lacobson..... 101/137 3,330,400 7/1967 Alexander 198/223,398,678 8/1968 Usko 101/38 3,469,670 9/ 1 969 Cartwright 198/223,496,863 2/1970 Cvacho et a1. 101/40 2,198,565 4/1940 Schutz et a1.101/40 X 2,345,870 4/1944 Guenther 101/40 UX 2,764,933 10/1956 Hargrave101/177 X 2,770,347 11/1956 Porterfield 198/25 2,796,164 6/1957 l-lakogi101/40 X 2,843,264 7/1958 Pfister 198/25 X 2,878,620 3/1959 Calehuff eta1 198/25 X 2,936,059 5/1960 Hakogi 198/22 X 2,936,701 5/1960 Stuchbery.101/40 3,018,726 1/1962 Ethier 271/56 X 3,195,451 7/1965 Horekamp et al.101/38 3,227,070 4/1966 Brigham et al.... 101/40 3,231,061 1/1966Borkmann 198/25 X 3,250,213 5/1966 Brigham et al 101/40 3,251,298 5/1966Rudolph et a1. 101/40 3,261,281 7/1966 l-lartmeister 101/40 X 3,279,36010/1966 Smith et a1 101/40 3,300,019 1/1967 Brigham et al 198/25 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerClifford D. CrowderAtt0rneyLearman & McCulloch ABSTRACT: High-speed printing or decoratingapparatus capable of printing information and decoration in a variety ofcolors on container sidewalls and the like, and with quality halftonesand fine type, including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series ofcircumferentially spaced mandrel lever assemblies with generallytangentially disposed, laterally projecting mandrels thereon mounted oneach side of the drum in line with a rotary printing drum having offsetprinting blankets on its peripheral face which are revolved past themandrel drum at a printing station; container supply and separatingmechanism for individually moving containers to a position opposite theperipheral path of the mandrels; and endless transfer conveyor mountedopposite the peripheral path of travel of the mandrels and carryingcam-controlled pusher members which follow the arcuate path of themandrels and at the same time move toward the mandrel drum to pushcontainers endwise onto the mandrels upstream of the printing station;and endless transfer conveyor mounted opposite the peripheral path oftravel of the mandrels downstream of the printing station and carryingcam-controlled suction cup, container removing members, for engaging theend walls of the containers, which follow the arcuate path of themandrels and remain squared with the ends of the containers whilepulling them endwisely off the ends of the mandrels and depositing themon discharge conveyor mechanism; valve mechanism for selectivelycommunicating vacuum and air pressure sources with each mandrel foraiding in drawing the containers onto the mandrels and removing themtherefrom; mechanism con nected with the valve mechanism and sensitiveto atmospheric pressure at a time when the vacuum source iscommunicating with a particular mandrel to sense that no container is onthe mandrel and to actuate a particular mandrel lever assembly to removethe mandrel from print position as it moves to the printing station;mechanism for supplying ink to the leading ends of the printing blanketsand lacquer to the trailing ends thereof so that the ink applied may beimmediately protected by a fast drying lacquer; and drive step means onthe printing drum adjacent each blanket and of greater thickness thanthe blankets for spinning the containers through a controlled number ofrevolutions relative to the blankets when the mandrels reach theprinting station.

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INVENTOR. EDWARD. J. RUSSELL GAYLORD W. BROWN DENNIS J. DORMAN ummwCONTAINER PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING One of the primeobjects of the present invention is to design a continuous motionprinting machine capable of printing containers at speeds which willpermit the printing machines to be positioned in factory productionlines with other machines for forming the containers and filling themwith product.

Another object of the invention is to provide a high speed machine ofthe character described wherein transfer mechanism is provided forgenerallyhorizontally supplying and removing containers from mandrelswhich extend laterally from both sides of the mandrel drum so that twolines of containers may be simultaneously printed or decorated by thesame printing drum in a continuous manner.

Another object of the. invention is to provide printing machines capableof running at speeds which may print containers at the rate of much as400 per minute on each side of a mandrel drum having circumferentiallyspaced, laterally extending mandrels on each side, and wherein controlof the containers is maintained at these speeds without touching thecontainer sidewalls once they have been printed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a highly reliableand efficient printing machine and method wherein a faster dryingprotective lacquer is immediately applied over ink printed on acontainer sidewall, after which removal of the containers from themandrels is effected by gripping the bottom walls thereof.

Still a further object of the invention is to design a machine which canbe economically manufactured and sold, considering the production whichis obtained from it.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed outspecifically or will become apparent from the following description whenit is considered in conjunctionwith the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one side of our printing machine, someof the parts being brokenaway or omitted in order to more clearlyillustrate the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view taken onthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1 andagain omitting some parts in the interest of clarity;

FIG. 3 is an opposite side elevational view taken on the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary; top plan view taken on the line 4-4of FIG. 1 and illustrating mechanism for insuring a proper feeding ofcontainers to star wheel mechanism which is used to supply thecontainers to a mandrel drum, the containers being omitted in theinterest of better illustrating the mechanism; '1

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a loading assembly illustratingthe manner in which containers are loaded individually to supportmandrels;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 andillustrating push-on mechanism for positioning the container on themandrels;

FIG. 7 is a still more enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view ofone end of the push-on mechanism taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, side elevational view illustrating the mannerof mounting the container supporting mandrels, taken on the line 8-8 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is a sectional end view through one of the container supportingmandrel assemblies, taken on the line 9-9 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, opposite, side elevational view taken on theline 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, partly sectional, inverse plan view taken on theline 11-11 of FIG. 9, illustrating mechanism for preventing the mandrelfrom reaching the printing drum if a container is not on the mandrel;FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, side elevational view taken on the line 12-12of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end elevational view of theprinting drum assembly, taken on the line 13-13 of FIG.

2; FIG. 14 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 14-14 ofFIG. 13, with parts omitted in the interest of clarity;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged, top plan view illustrating the printing blanketand mandrel drive strip; FIG. 16 is an enlarged, side elevational viewof the container removing mechanism for pulling the containersindividually off the mandrel, taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a sectional, front elevational view taken on the line 17-17of FIG. 16; FIG. 18 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional side viewtaken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken on the line19-19 0fFIG.1;

FIG. 20 is a still more enlarged, sectional side elevational view takenon the line 20-20 of FIG. 19; FIG. 21 is a similar view taken on theline 21-21 of FIG. 19; FIG. 22 is a similar view taken on the line 22-22of FIG. 19.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Referring now more particularly to the accompanyingdrawings, and in the first instance to FIGS. l-3 thereof, the highspeed, multicolor printing machine disclosed and to be describedincludes: a frame F; a pair of container supplying conveyor assemblies,each generally designated 10; a double star wheel container pickup trainleading from each conveyor assembly 10 and generally designated 11; amandrel loading assembly 12 on each side of the machine for transferringcontainers supplied by each star wheel train 11 to laterally extendingindividual mandrels on each side of a revolving mandrel drum assembly13; a printing drum assembly generally designated 14 disposed in line"with the mandrel drum assembly and revolving in timed relation therewithto print the containers at a printing station S downstream of themandrel loading assembly 12; a pair of mandrel unloading assemblies 15(see FIG. 2) located on opposite sides of the mandrel drum assemblydownstream of the printing station S; and a pair of laterally extendingdischarge conveyor assemblies, each generally designated 16. It is to beunderstood that a double line of containers is being supplied to andtreated in the machine, which typically has a capacity in theneighborhood of 600 containers per minute. The machine is of the typewhich prints continuously such containers as vacuum formed oil cans,blown plastic bottles, and container halves which may be later joined byspin welding. While generally speaking the printing apparatus welladapted to the printing of synthetic plastic containers such aspolyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene containers, it is to beunderstood that containers of other material may also be readily printedby the machine. Also, while the machine is shown particularly asprinting containers with cylindrical walls, by properly inclining orconfiguring the sides of the mandrel supports on which the containersare received it is possible also to print containers and like objectshaving tapering sidewalls or those which are oval in shape.

THE CONTAINER SUPPLY CONVEYOR ASSEMBLIES As particularly indicated inFIGS. l-3, each supply conveyor assembly 10 includes inner and outerside frame members 17 and 13, respectively, connected by braces 19. Atits upper end each conveyor assembly 10 is adjustably supported by abracket 20 from the machine base member 21. At its opposite end eachdownwardly inclined conveyor 10 is supported on baseplate 21. Since apair of side-by-side supply conveyor assemblies 10 are employed,identical numerals are utilized to identify the identical parts thereof.Supported between the side frame members 17 and 18 are upper and lowerroller members 23 and 24, respectively (see FIGS. 1 and 4), around whichis trained an endless belt 25 moving in the direction of the arrow 0 inFIG. 1. Guide rail members 26 are secured to the side frame members 17and 18 to guide the containers C in their path of travel downwardly froma suitable source of supply to the double star wheel mechanismsgenerally designated 11.

Provided forwardly of each belt 25 is a pair of transfer belts 27traveling at a high rate of speed in the same direction of travel asbelts 25 for the purpose of picking up containers C individually andmoving them to the star wheel trains generally designated 11. The belts27 are trained around pulleys 28 and 29 (see FIG. 4) mounted on a pairof shafts 30 and 31, respectively, which are journaled in bearings 32provided on support arms 33 extending from the conveyor side railmembers 17 and 18.

THE DOUBLE STAR WHEEL MECHANISMS The transfer belts 27, which are drivenin a manner to be later described, spin the containers C in acounterclockwise direction, as shown at b in FIG. 1, up into the pockets34 provided in the lower pairs of star wheel members 35, which, as FIG.1 indicates, are being continuously revolved counterclockwisely in thedirection d. Each pair of star wheel members 35 is mounted on a driveshaft 36 journaled in bearings 37 and 38 provided on opposite sides of acentral frame member 39 disposed between the pairs of double star wheelassemblies 1 1.

Mounted above the pairs of star wheel members 35 and slightly forwardlythereof to receive containers C from the star wheel members 35 are pairsof star wheel members 40 which are similarly supported by a single shaft41. The shaft 41 is journaled by bearings 42 and 43 on opposite sides ofthe frame member 39 and supports and pairs of star wheel members 40 oneach side of the machine. An S-shaped guard rail 44 cooperates with alower guard rail 45 and an upper guard rail 46 to maintain thecontainers C in proper position as they are moved along. Each of theguard rails 44-46 for each assembly 11 may be supported from the centralplate 39 on cross rail members 46a from which extend support rods 46b.The lower and upper guard rails 45 and 46 maintain the containers C inthe pockets 34 and 40a, respectively and the pairs of guard rails 44 onopposite sides of each assembly 11 maintain the endwise position of thecontainers C.

THE MANDREL LOADING MECHANISMS As FIG. I particularly indicates, theupper star wheel members 40 deliver the cans or containers C to aposition in endwise alignment with the path of a series ofcircumferentially spaced container support mandrels 47 provided on eachside of the mandrel drum assembly generally designated 13. In FIG. acontainer C is shown as having been moved to a position of alignment ateopposite a container support mandrel 47 to which it is to betransferred. As FIG. 1 indicates, the mandrels 47 are mounted oncircumferentially spaced support arm assemblies 48 on the drum assembly13, which is continuously revolved in the direction f shown in FIG. 1.To assist in moving the containers C continuously to the mandrels 47,identical pusher assemblies 12 are provided on each side of the machinewhich include upper and lower support plates 49 and 50, respectively(see FIG. 6), which are connected by shafts 51 journaled in bearings 52provided on the members 49 and 50. Arm members 53, extending fromtubular frame members 54, support the assemblies 12, there being arms 55extending inwardly from the arms 54 to which adjustable clamp assemblies56 mounted on the lower plates 50 are clamped.

As FIGS. 5 and 6 indicate, the pusher disk members 57, which areemployed to push the containers C axially a part of the way in anendwise direction onto the mandrels 47, must move in a directionlaterally inwardly toward the mandrels 47 at the same time they arefollowing peripheral path of mandrels 47. Each pusher 57 is fixed on athreaded rod 58 adjustably received within a threaded opening in a block59. The blocks 59 are mounted on vertical slide rods 60 which aresupported for vertical sliding movement in slide bearing blocks 61extending from Vertically extending U-shaped support frames 62 carriedby upper and lower chains 63a and 63b. Angle straps 64 may be employedto secure the frame members 62 to the chains 63a and 6312 as FIG. 5indicates, the chains 63a and 63b are trained around sprockets 65 and 66on shaft members 51. The chains are guided by endless guide members 67which preferably are suitable constructed of a hard-wearing plasticmaterial such as nylon and are fixed to the plates 49 and 50.

As FIG. 5 indicates, the inclination of the runs of chains 63a and 63bis such that the disks 57 move endwisely the distance required to pushthe containers or cans C the required distance onto mandrels 47. Asshown in FIG. 7, each of the rod members 60 is bored at one end, as at68, to receive a coil spring 69 supported by a spring mount 70, andslide bushings 71 are mounted by the blocks 61 and 59 so that each rod60 is slideable downwardly to the extent required. The normal upwardposition of each disk 57 is maintained by the spring 69, which urgeseach rod 60 upwardly against a stop or abutment 72 provided on eachsupport frame 62.

Provided to move each disk 57 downwardly is a follower roller 73 mountedrevolvably on a support rod 74 which extends into a bored opening 75provide in the disk mount block 59 and an opening 600 in rod 60, andwhich is pinned to the rod 60 as at 76. To permit movement of eachsupport rod 74 downwardly each support frame 62 is slotted as at 77.Each follower roller 73 follows the cam surface of an elongate, linearcam 79 supported from the top plate 49 by a brace 80.

THE MANDREL DRUM ASSEMBLY The drum assembly 13 includes a circular disk81 fixed on a drive shaft 82 supported at its ends by bearing blocks 83mounted on a frame member 84. The shaft 82 is driven by a pulley 85 bymeans ofa belt 86 in a manner which will be later described in thedirection of rotation f. As shown particularly in FIGS. 8 and 9, eacharm assembly 47a includes a pair of arms 87 fixed on opposite sides ofthe disk 81 and extending generally radially outwardly beyond theperiphery of the disk 81. At their outer ends the arms 87 mount a pivotpin 88 on which each mandrel support arm 89 is pivotally received, asshown. Springs 90 secured to an eyebolt member 91 on the arm 87 of eacharm assembly 47a and to a pin 92 on a clamp block 93 which is fixed tothe pivot pin 88 normally maintain the arms 89 in the generallytangential position in which they are shown, a stop block 94 beingprovided to engage each block 93, as shown and thereby limit outwardtravel of the arms 89 which, like arms 93, are fixed to the pins 88.Each arm 89 supports a shaft 95 which, it will be observed, extendslaterally from each side of an arm 89.

Pairs of inner and outer roller bearing 96 and 97, respectively,rotatably support and mandrel sleeve assemblies generally designated 98which each include a pair of mandrels 47. The mandrels 47 may comprisealuminum blocks 99 on which resilient plastic liner sleeves 100 may beprovided. The sleeves 100 are preferably constructed of synthetic rubbermaterial of about 45-55 durometer rating and possess a certain desiredresilience. To move the containers C the final increment onto themandrels 47, vacuum is employed and a port 101 extending through theshaft 95 communicates with a vacuum passage 102 in each arm 89, asshown.

THE NO PRINT ASSEMBLY Normally, the mandrel drum assembly 13 is revolvedin the direction f so that each mandrel assembly 98 is successivelypresented to the printing station S. The position of mandrel assemblies98 is so adjusted that containers C on the mandrels 47 are engaged bythe printing elements of the drum assembly 14 with adequate printingpressure and are revolved thereby so that the entire periphery of eachcontainer C may be printed. When inadvertently no container C is loadedto a particular mandrel 47, it is desirable to move the mandrel 47inwardly toward the mandrel disk 81 away from print position so as to becertain to avoid printing the particular sleeve 100. To accomplish this,a no print" assembly is provided which moves the arm 89 in the directionnecessary.

The no print assembly includes a sensing diaphragm assembly generallydesignated 103 having a diaphragm 104, as

shown in FIGS. 9 and 11,.dividing the device 103 into separatecompartments 105 and 106. The compartment 105 connects, via a line 107,with the vacuum port 102 and is in turn connected via a line 107, withthe vacuum port 102 and is in turn connected with a source of vacuum ina manner which will be described. The diaphragm 104 is connected to arod 109 mounting a hardened bushing 110 which is receivable between ablock 111 fixed to each'pivot pin 88, and a follower arm 112 which ispivotally received on each pin 88. Last motion mechanism is providedincluding a follower arm 112 having a portion 112a with'an opening 113accommodating a return spring 114 which has is other end retained by aspring mount member 115 "on the block 111. At its opposite endthefollower arm 112 mountsa follower roller 116 adapted to engage astationary cam 117 (see FIG. supported on an arm 118 on the frame member84 adjacent the peripheralpath of the printing drum assembly14.

As each arm assembly 48 including each no print as sembly is revolved inthe direction f in FIG. 1, follower roller 116 on follower arm 112 willengage behind the cam 117, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, and will pivotthe follower arm 112 about pivot pin 88. If the machine is operatingnormally and containers C are mounted on each of the pair of mandrels 47of a particular arm assembly 48, the vacuum condition will be maintainedin line 107 and the diaphragm 104*will be in a position in which thediaphragm rod 109 is disposed in the position shown in FIG. 11. In thissituation the follower arm 112 will pivot slightly relative to block 111and when the roller 116 passes beyond cam 117 the spring 114 will returnthe follower arm 112 to position. Since the follower arm 112 is free topivot wit respect to block 111 about shaft 88', the position of thesupport arm 89 and the mandrels 47 thereon will be unchanged andprinting of the containers will proceed in the normal manner. However,if for some reason no container C is disposed on one of the mandrels 47,line 107 will be open to the atmosphere and the diaphragm 104 and'rod109 will be moved to the right in FIG. 11 to a position between block111 and follower arm portion 112a. When the vacuum condition indiaphragm chamber 105 isrelieved, the spring 119 forces the rod 109 tothe right in FIGS. 9 and 11 to position and bushing 110 between the,block portion 112a and the block 111. Thus, when cam 117 pivots thefollower arm 112, the bushing 110 on rod 109 prevents relative movementbetween the parts 111 and 112 and both parts 111 and 112 are pivoted.Since block 111 is fixed to the pin 88 by setscrew 120 (see FIG. 12),the pin 88 is pivoted, thus pivoting and moving the arm 89 and mandrels47 in a direction i, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, away from theperipheral path of the printing drum assembly 14.

THE PRINTING DRUM ASSEMBLY The drum assembly 14 is particularlyillustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 13, 14, and and includes a pair of offsetprinting drums I21 rotatably supported on a shaft 122 journaled inbearings I23 on side frame members 124 for rotation in the direction j.Shaft 122 is driven by a pulley 125 by means ofa belt 126 in a mannerwhich will be later described.

Mounted on the drums 121 are circumferentially spaced, offset printingblankets generally designated 127, each of which includes a leadingink-applying blanket portion 128 and a trailing lacquer-applying blanketportion 129. Provided adjacent each blanket 127 is a coextensive drivestrip 130 (see FIG. 15) fabricated of the same blanket material butthicker so that it engages and drives the confronting mandrels 47. Theblankets 127 are of such length relative to the peripheral speeds of thedrums 121 and mandrel assembly 13 that each mandrel 47 preferably makestwo revolutions as it passes a blanket 127. During the first revolution,the mandrel assembly 98 and the pair of containers thereon will movethrough one complete revolution and the containers will be printed overtheir entire circumferential surface by the blanket portion 128 in eachcolor which is being used. As the printing drum assembly l4 and mandrelassembly 13 continue to move in the same direction of rotation abouttheir axes (counterclockwisely in FIG. 1), lacquer is applied by thetrailing blanket portions 129. The engaging surfaces of the blanketportions 128 are preferably so configured in the usual manner that onecolor never is in contact with another color and there is no mixing ofthe ink. In the machine shown, four colors are being applied and thepolyethylene ink printed on the containers is being covered with afast-drying clear, protective, polyethylene lacquer coating. Othercompatible inks and lacquers may be used, dependent on the material fromwhich the containers being printed are formed. The resilient blanketmaterial employed (typically natural or synthetic rubber) is one whichthe ink and lacquer used do not attack.

Ink-supplying and blanket-coating assemblies generally designated131-l34' for applying different colors of ink to each blanket portion128 are depicted in FIG. 1 and the numeral generally designates asimilar assembly which is employed, however, to apply the protective.lacquer to the portion 129 of each blanket 127. Because the lacquer canbe dried of flash dried much faster than the ink, it is possible bycoating the ink printing with lacquer to cut the drying time veryconsiderably and thus greatly increase the number of containers whichcan be handled in a given period of time. The lacquer and ink used areimmiscible in the sense that they do not mix with, dissolve in, orattack one another. The ink is in the form of a paste with a relativelyhigh tack number (typically l230), while the lacquer is a free flowingliquid which, when applied, does not move or disturb the ink because ofthis difference in viscosity. Such inks are typically obtainable fromlnterchemical Corporation of New York City, N.Y., U.S.A. Each blanket127 prints all four colors and applies a coat of lacquer, and the numberof blanket assemblies 127 on a given drum assembly 14 will be gauged tothe relative speeds of rotation of mandrel assemblies 13, drum assembly14, and the number of mandrel arm assemblies 48 carrying the containerswhich are to be printed.

As FIG. 14 indicates, the applying blankets 131b-135b on the coloredink-applying rolls 131a, 132a, 133a and 1340 and the lacquer-applyingroll 135a extend only part way around the circumference of each roll andare so positioned that as the rolls l3la-135a are driven in timedrelation to drums 121, the blanket 13Sb misses the printing drum blanketportions 128 and applies a lacquer coating only to the lacquer-applyingblanket portions 129 while the blankets l31b-134b miss the printing drumblanket portions 129 and apply ink only to the portions 128. It is to beunderstood that applying assemblies 131-135 may be of the type mentionedin Jackson et al. US. Pat. No. 2,718,847, Munn US. Pat. No. 3,308,754,or Hovekamp US. Pat. No. 3,195,451, and since they form no part of hepresent invention will not be described in detail. The rolls 131a-135aare driven in a manner which will be described, in timed relation withthe shaft 122 and at the same speed.

The printing pressure employed to print the colors on the containersduring the first revolution thereof is the so-called kiss touch wellknown in the trade and during the second revolution of each container Ca lacquer coating is wiper on by the blanket portions 129, which areidentical in length with the blanket portions 128. Because the strips130, while engaging mandrels 47, hold the containers C away from thesurface of the blankets 127, smearing is avoided, each container Cremoving about one-half of the thickness of the lacquer coating on anygiven blanket portion 129.

THE CONTAINER UNLOADING MECHANISM As FIGS. 1 and 3 particularlyindicate, mounted diametrically opposite each side of the printing drumassembly 14 is a container takeoff or unloading assembly generallyindicated 15. As will later be explained, air under pressure is suppliedthrough the mandrel ports 101 (FIG. 9) at about the time the containersreach an end stop and guide member 137 (FIG. 2)

supported by braces 138 from a vertical portion 139 of the frame F. Thestop members 137 maintain the containers C on the mandrels 47 until suchtime as the containers C are brought opposite the takeoff assemblies 15,as indicated in FIG. 2, which then progressively remove them to thedischarge conveyors 16.

Each takeoff assembly 15, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 16-18particular, includes a pair of end frame members 140 supported by bracemembers 141 from the frame F. End frame members 140 journal a trio ofshafts 142, 143 and 144 arranged in generally triangular disposition asshown in FIG. 17, and journaled by bearings 145 provided on the endframe members 140. The shaft 142 mounts a pair of space apart sprockets146 and 147, the shaft 143 mounts a pair of sprockets 148 and 149, andthe shaft 144 mounts a pair of sprockets 150 and 151. Trained around thesprockets 146, 148, and 150 is a chain 151a and trained around thesprockets 147, 149 and 151 is a chain 152. Mounted at spaced apartintervals on the chain 151a are special support links 153 and mounted onthe chain 152 at spaced apart intervals are opposite support links 154.

A suction takeofi' assembly generally designated 155 is supportedbetween each pair of links 153 and 154 and, as FIG. 18 indicates,includes a series of connecting strap members 156. Each strap 156supports a pair of slide bearing blocks 158 with slide bushings 159.Mounted by the bushings 159 is a slide shaft 160 having an opening 161at one end accommodating a return spring 162 which at its other end issecured by a spring mount member 163 on the strap 156. The spring 162normally urges the slide shaft 160 to the right in FIG. 18 to a positionin engagement with a stop member 164 provided on the strap 156.Rotatably mounted on each shaft 160 by bushings 165 and 166 are afollower arm 167 and a block 168 to which it is fixed, and it will beobserved that the block 168 mounts a suction cup support block 169 towhich a suction cup support block 169 to which a suction cup 170 isfixed as shown.

The follower arm 167 carries a follower roller 171, disposed to engagecam 172, which adjusts its position and that of suction cup 170 relativeto the path of the container ends to keep it squared therewith for thetime required for the suction cup to grip the container end. Because itis also necessary that the suction cups 170 remain aligned with theperipheral path of the containers C, an arm 173 carries a followerroller 173a which engages an elongate cam 174, as shown particularly inFIG. 16, which causes the shaft 160 to move axially in FIG. 18 tomaintain this alignment. Adjacent the lower sprockets 148, 149 and 150,151 is a lower cam 175 which is engaged by follower roller 171 tomaintain the suction cup 170 squared with the traveling surface of thetakeoff conveyor 16, the arm 167 and block 168 pivoting on shaft 160 asnecessary to achieve an aligned position. A torsion spring 176 connectedbetween the arm 173 and block 168 maintains the block 168 and arm 167 ina particular position in which the follower roller 171 engages cams 172and 175 (FIG. 17). A slot 156a in each strap 156 and a slot 168a in eachblock 168 permit pivoting movement of the arms 167 and blocks 168 aboutshafts 160 relative to the straps 156 and arms 173, respectively.

Utilized in conjunction with each suction cup assembly 155 toselectively communicate with a vacuum source is a suction tube 177leading to a suction cup 177a sealed over an opening 17717 provided in abelt 177c which is trained around upper and lower pulleys 178 and 179mounted on shafts 142 and 143. Pulleys 178 and 179 are toothed toreceive the timing belt 177a which has similar projections engagingbetween the teeth of the pulleys 178 and 179 so that no slippage of thevacuum belt 177:: occurs. The vertically inclined run of the belt 1770extending between pulleys 178 and 179 travels along a vacuum manifold180 having a continuous slot 18] extending between the pulleys 178 and179. The vacuum source communicates with the cups.177a only along thisrun of belt 177a so that the cups 170 engage the ends of the containersC as they move around the pulley 178 and release the containers C asthey move around the pulley 179. As FIG. 17 particularly indicates, thesuction is released at the time each container C is deposited on adischarge conveyor 16 and thereafter the cups act to prevent thecontainers C from tipping as they proceed outwardly on the dischargeconveyors 16. As FIG. 2 particularly indicates, each discharge conveyor16 includes an endless belt member 182 trained around inner and outerroller members 183 and 184 on shafts 185 supported by conveyor sideframe members 186. The vacuum chambers 180 are connected to the tubularframe members 54 by hose members 187.

MANDREL AIR AND VACUUM SUPPLY SYSTEM Provided to alternately andselectively apply air under pressure and suction forces to the mandrelports 101 is an airvacuum valve assembly generally indicated by thenumeral 188 (see FIGS. 1 and 19). The assembly 188 comprises a series ofthree disks 189, 190 and 191 which are respectively shown facially inFIGS. 20, 21 and 22. The tubular frame members 54 are connected withcontinuously operating vacuum pumps 192 (FIG. 1) via lines 193 (FIG. 2),and a line 194 leads from the frame member 54 to the plate 189 which isstationarily mounted by a bracket 195 connected to support 84. Thebracket 195 also stationarily supports the disk 190. The disk 191, is,however, keyed as at 196 on the mandrel drum shaft 82.

Provided in the disk 189 is an opening 197 communicating with the vacuumline 194 and an opening 198 communicating with an air supply line 199.The opening 198 communicates with a slot 200 provided in the disk 190and the opening 197 with a slightly longer slot 201 provided in the disk190. Provided in the rotary disk 191 are a series of circumferentiallyspaced openings 202 which are peripherally disposed to rotate past theslots 200 and 201. Lines 108 (FIG. 9) connect each of the openings 202with the line 107 leading to a particular mandrel shaft port 101.

THE DRIVE MECHANISM Mounted by a subframe assembly generally designated203 is a drive motor gear box assembly 204 for driving the variousoperating elements of the machine. As FIG. 1 indicates, the motor 204has an armature shaft 205 mounting a gear 206 which drives a gear 207 ona jack shaft 208 journaled by bearings 209 from a support block 210. Atits opposite end, shaft 208 is connnected to a gear box 211 supported inany convenient fashion from the machine frame F. The gear box 211 has avertically extending drive shaft 212 extending to a second gear box 213having a pair of lateral output shafts 214 and 215 (see FIG. 2). Shaft215 extends to another gear box 216 having an output shaft 217. A secondoutput shaft 216a extending from gear box 216 is coupled to shaft 144driving the one container takeoff assembly 15. The shaft 217 extendsthrough a gear box 218 having a downwardly extending output shaft 219leading to a gear box 220 which has a lateral output shaft 221 drivingone of the discharge conveyors 16, as shown in FIG. 2. A sprocketprovided on the output shaft 221 drives the outer shaft 185 by means ofa chain 222.

The output shaft 214 extends across to the gear box 223 which has theoutput shaft 218 coupled to and driving the shaft 144 of the lefttakeoff assembly 15 in FIG. 2. The gear box 223 also has an output shaft224 extending outwardly to a gear box 225. Extending downwardly from thegear box 225 is a drive shaft 226 which extends to a gear box 227 havingan output shaft 228 driving the outboard discharge conveyor shaft 185through a similar chain and sprocket assembly 222.

The motor gear box assembly 204 also has an output shaft 229 with apulley 230 mounted thereon driving a pulley 231 mounted on a shaft 232via a belt 233. The shaft 232 is coupled to the input shaft of a gearbox 234 which has an output shaft 234a with a pulley 235. thereondriving a pulley 236 through a belt 237. The pulley 236 is mounted on ashaft 238 having a sprocket 239 thereon which drives a jack shaft 240through a chain 241 trained around a sprocket 240a. The jack

1. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for container partsidewalls and the like comprising: a rotary mandrel drum having a seriesof circumferentially spaced, laterally projecting container partreceiving mandrels thereon movable in a circular path of travel about anaxis when the drum is rotated; means presenting offset printing blanketmeans at a printing station past which said mandrels move when the drumis rotated; mandrel loader means to which container parts are suppliedmounted adjacent the circular path of travel of the mandrels; controlmeans for the mandrel loader means causing the loader means to followonly a portion of the circular path of the mandrels and at the same timemove toward the mandrel drum to push container parts endwisely onto themandrels upstream of the printing station; mandrel unloader meansmounTed adjacent another portion of the circular path of travel of themandrels downstream of the printing station; and control means for themandrel unloader means causing the unloader means to follow only aportion of the circular path of the mandrels while pulling containerparts endwisely off the ends of the mandrels.
 2. Apparatus as set forthin claim 1 wherein said loader means comprises an endless transferconveyor mounted for movement in a path toward and away from the ends ofthe mandrels and pusher means mounted on said endless transfer conveyorfor movement laterally to the travel of said endless transfer conveyor;and means for moving the pusher means laterally to the travel of saidendless transfer conveyor so that the pusher means, as it moves,accommodates to a portion of the circular path taken by the mandrels. 3.Apparatus as set in claim 2 wherein said transfer conveyor is endlessand travels in a plane which is parallel to the rotational axis of saiddrum.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 39 wherein said endlesstransfer conveyor comprises a pair of spread apart, endless members;pusher support means carried by and spanning said endless members; andat least one pusher member carried by said pusher support means.
 5. Thecombination defined in claim 4 in which said pusher support meanscomprises telescoping members, one of which supports said pusher; camtrack means extending between said endless members and generallyparallel thereto; and follower means moving with the pusher and engagingsaid cam track means to position said pusher transversely relative tothe travel of said endless members so it can follow the circular path ofa mandrel on the mandrel drum.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4wherein said loader means includes means include means for driving themandrel drum an said endless members in timed relation to correlate thelinear speed of the pusher member to the linear speed of the mandrels sothat the pusher member moves at substantially the same linear speed asthe mandrels move when the mandrels are axially opposite thereto topermit the container parts to be received on the mandrels.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 2 wherein the endless transfer conveyor includesopposed runs; at last one of said runs and said mandrel drum beingmounted in converging relation in the direction of approach to theprinting station so that the pusher means gradually pushes a containerendwisely onto a mandrel.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which saidunloader means comprises an endless transfer conveyor mounted formovement in a path toward and sway from the mandrels and the containerthereon and transfer means mounted on said endless transfer conveyor formovement laterally to the travel of said endless transfer conveyor; andcontrol means for moving the transfer means laterally to the travel ofsaid endless transfer conveyor so that the transfer means, as it moves,accommodates to a portion of the circular path taken by the mandrels andat the same time moves axially relative to the mandrels.
 9. Apparatus asset forth in claim 8 wherein said transfer conveyor is endless andtravels in a plane which is parallel to the rotational axis of saiddrum. ,
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one ofsaid loader means and said unloader means comprises an endless transferconveyor and transfer means is mounted on said endless transfer conveyorfor movement between positions axially aligned wit the mandrels toaxially nonaligned positions; and means for moving the transfer meansbetween said axially aligned positions and said axially nonalignedpositions.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said endlesstransfer conveyor comprises a pair of spaced apart endless members;support means carried by and spanning said endless members; and at leastone transfer member carried by said support means.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11 wherein said one means comprises means for driving the mandreldrum and said endless members iN timed relation to correlate the linearspeed of the transfer member with the linear speed of the mandrels sothat the transfer member moves along, axially opposite a mandrel topermit transfer of a container part to occur.
 13. The combinationdefined in claim 12 in which the pair of endless members have aninclined path with respect to the mandrel drum and move away from theside of the drum in the direction of leaving the printing station sothat an unloading member gradually pulls a container endwisely off amandrel.
 14. The combination defined in claim 12 in which said supportmeans comprises telescoping members and said unloading member comprisesa suction cup assembly mounted on one of said telescoping members forpivotal movement about an axis generally normal to the direction ofextent of said endless members.
 15. The combination defined in claim 14in which cam track means extends between said endless members andgenerally parallel thereto; and follower means is provided for thesuction cup assembly for engaging said cam track means to position saidsuction cup assembly transversely relative to the travel of said endlessmembers so it can follow the peripheral path of a mandrel on the mandreldrum.
 16. The combination defined in claim 15 in which additional camtrack means extends between said endless members; and follower means isprovided for the suction cup assembly for engaging said additional camtrack means to pivot said suction cup assembly and maintain it inparallel alignment with the end of a mandrel being unloaded.
 17. Thecombination defined in claim 16 in which discharge conveyor means isdisposed under the unloader means on which said container parts aredeposited and cam means is provided to pivot said suction cup assemblyand maintain it in parallel alignment with said discharge conveyormeans.
 18. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said mandrels haveports therein, opening through their surfaces, and are movable betweenradially outer positions in which containers parts supported thereon areprinted at said printing station and radially inner positions in whichcontainers parts supported thereon are not printed; vacuum source meansin communication with said ports as the mandrels move to the printingstation; and means connected with said ports for sensing the pressure inthe ports and causing the mandrels with no container parts thereon to bemoved to said radially inner positions as they are moved past theprinting station.
 19. The combination defined in claim 1 in which saidunloader means comprises suction cups and control means is provided formaintaining the cups parallel with the ends of the container parts whilepulling them endwisely off the ends of the mandrels.
 20. The combinationdefined in claim 19 in which a stationary vacuum manifold having a slottherein is provided on said unloader means and connected with a vacuumsource; and a timing belt with openings connected to said suction cupsruns on said manifold.
 21. High speed printing or decorating apparatusfor container part sidewalls and the like comprising: printing meansmovable in an endless path of travel and having a series of spaced,blanket means which it successively presents to a printing station asthe printing means moves in said endless path; mandrel support meanshaving a series of rotatable mandrels which are adapted to receivecontainer parts thereon and are movable in a path toward and away fromthe printing station; means for applying printing ink to the leadingsection of each blanket means and for applying a transparent overcoatingmaterial, which dries faster than the printing ink, to the trailingsection of each blanket means; said trailing and leading sections beingaligned for movement in a common path of travel; means for loadingcontainer parts to the mandrels; means for maintaining each containerpart on a mandrel in engagement with one of said blanket means at theprinting station to rotate each container part supporting Mandrelthrough more than one revolution as the container part mounted thereonpasses over both the leading and trailing sections of the blanket means;and means for unloading the container parts after they are printed. 22.The combination defined in claim 21 in which a container drive strip ofgreater thickness than the blanket means is mounted on the drum meansalongside and coextensive with each blanket means for engaging saidcontainers and revolving said mandrels to successively print and lacquerthem.
 23. The combination defined in claim 22 in which said mandrels aremounted to extend laterally from both sides of a mandrel drum mountedfor rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of theprinting drum means and constituting said mandrel support means; andmeans for driving said mandrel drum and drum means in timed relation inthe same direction of rotation so that the mandrels and blanket meansmove oppositely at the printing station.
 24. The combination defined inclaim 21 in which said mandrels are mounted by lever assemblies formovement to an operative position in which container parts mountedthereon are printed at the printing station and a removed position inwhich container parts mounted thereon are not printed at the printingstation as the mandrels move past the printing station; each mandrelhaving port means opening to the surface thereof; vacuum source meansbeing communicable with each of said port means; and pressure sensitivemeans at each mandrel assembly for sensing the pressure in said portmeans and being operable to position the mandrels in said removedposition at the printing station if no container parts are disposed onthe mandrels as they are moved past said printing station.
 25. Thecombination defined in claim 24 in which mandrel approach sensing meansis provided at the printing station and operates to actuate a followeron each lever assembly approaching the printing station.
 26. Thecombination defined in claim 25 in which endless transfer means isprovided for loading container parts individually to the mandrels andremoving them therefrom.
 27. The combination defined in claim 52 inwhich said mandrels are mounted by lever assemblies for movement to aradially outer position in which they are printed at the printingstation and a removed position in which they are not; each mandrel has aport opening to the surface thereof; vacuum source means is communicablewith each port; and pressure sensitive means at each mandrel assembly isoperable to position the mandrel in removed position at the printingstation if no container part is disposed on the mandrel.
 28. High speedprinting or decorating apparatus for printing container part sidewallsand the like including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series ofcircumferentially spaced; laterally projecting mandrels thereon movablein a circular path of travel when the drum is rotated; means presentingoffset printing blanket means at a printing station past which saidmandrels move when the drum is rotated; means for loading containerparts to the mandrels upstream of the printing station; mandrel unloadermeans mounted adjacent the circular path of travel of the mandrelsdownstream of the printing station and having gripper means for engagingthe container parts supported on the mandrels; and control means forcausing the gripper means to follow only a portion of the circular pathof the mandrels and to gradually move away from the mandrel drum andpull container parts endwisely off the mandrels as the drum rotates insaid circular path of travel.
 29. The combination defined in claim 28 inwhich said unloader means comprises endless conveyor means with a firstrun extending from a position adjacent the circular path of travel ofthe mandrels downwardly along the path of travel of the mandrels butgradually outwardly away therefrom to pull container parts off themandrels; the unloader means also having a run extending laterally awayfrom said first run; and discharge conveyor means disposed under saidlaterally extending run on which container parts are deposited by saidunloader means.
 30. The combination defined in claim 28 in which a valvecollar is mounted by said mandrel drum and includes a disk mounted forrotation with the drum and having an opening for each mandrel disposedaround its periphery; line means connecting each opening with adifferent mandrel; each mandrel having port means therein opening to thesurface thereof; and means associated with said collar for selectivelyconnecting each opening with a vacuum source and a source of compressedair to aid in drawing a container part onto a mandrel and removing ittherefrom, respectively.
 31. High speed printing apparatus as set forthin claim 28 wherein said unloader means comprises an endless conveyormounted for movement in a path transverse to said circular path oftravel, said gripper means being mounted on said endless conveyor formovement laterally to the travel of said endless conveyor; and means formoving the gripper means laterally to the travel of said endlessconveyor so that the gripper means, as it moves, follows a portion ofthe circular path taken by the mandrels.
 32. High speed printing ordecorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the likecomprising: a frame; a mandrel carrier mounted mounted thereon formovement in an endless path of travel, at least a portion of which iscurvilinear, said carrier having a series of spaced, container partsupporting mandrel assemblies with laterally projecting mandrelsthereon; means presenting offset printing blanket means at a printingstation past which said mandrels move when the carrier is moved; eachmandrel having a port opening to the outer surface thereof; value meansselectively communicating a vacuum source with said ports to assist indrawing container parts onto said mandrels; pressure sensitive meansconnected with said ports and being operative to sense the presence orabsence of a container part on each of the mandrels when said valvemeans is communicating the vacuum source with the associated port; meansincorporated with said mandrel assemblies mounted said mandrels formovement from an operative position in which container parts thereon areprinted by engaging the blanket means as the mandrels move past theprinting station to a removed position in which container partssupported thereon do not engage the printing blanket means as themandrels move past the printing station; means responsive to saidpressure sensitive means for determining in which position each mandrelis disposed at the printing station; stationary cam track mans disposedadjacent the printing station for actuating the mandrel assemblies asthe mandrel assemblies move past the printing station; each mandrelbeing normally biased to a radially outer position and each mandrelassembly having a lost motion mechanism capable of absorbing themovement imparted by said cam track means; and said means fordetermining in which position each mandrel is disposed at the printingstation including means for disabling said lost motion mechanism so thatsaid cam track means actuates the mandrels to removed position.
 33. Thecombination defined in claim 32 in which each mandrel assembly includesa rock shaft generally parallel to the axis of said mandrel drum and alever rotatably supporting a mandrel is fixed thereon; spring meansbiasing each rock shaft and lever to hold the mandrel in normallyradially outer position; a follower arm journaled on each rock shaft andengaging said cam track means at the printing station; a member fixed oneach rock shaft and having a portion spaced therefrom in the path ofmovement of said follower arm to normally permit movement of thefollower arm relative thereto; and diaphragm means communicating withsaid port means in each mandrel and having a part movable between eachfollower arm and fixed member to transmit movement of the follower armto the fixed member and thereby pivot the rOck shaft and the lever andmove the mandrel to said removed position.
 34. High speed printing ordecorating apparatus for printing container part side walls and the likeincluding: a rotary mandrel drum having a series of circumferentiallyspaced, laterally projecting mandrels thereon movable in acircumferential path of travel when the drum is rotated; meanspresenting offset printing blanket means at a printing station pastwhich said mandrels move when the drum is rotated; means for ladingcontainer parts to the mandrels upstream of the printing station;mandrel unloader means mounted adjacent the circumferential path oftravel of the mandrels downstream of the printing station and having acarrier movable in a chordal path of travel relative to saidcircumferential path of travel; gripper means mounted on said carriermeans for engaging the end walls of the container parts supported onsaid mandrels; and control means causing said gripper means to graduallymove away from the mandrel drum and pull container parts endwisely offthe mandrels.
 35. High sped printing or decorating apparatus forcontainer part sidewalls and the like including: a rotary mandrel drumhaving a series of circumferentially spaced, laterally projectingmandrels thereon movable in a circular path of travel about an axis asthe drum is rotated; means presenting offset printing blanket means at aprinting station past which said mandrels move as the drum is rotated;means for supporting the container parts; transfer means mountedadjacent the circular path of travel of the mandrels including a carriermeans movable an endless path and conveying means on said carrier meansfor transferring container parts between the mandrels and said supportmeans; and control means for the transfer means causing the conveyingmeans, when moving in said endless path, to follow only a portion of thecircular path of the mandrels and to also move axially relative to themandrels.
 36. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for containerpart sidewalls and the like including: a rotary mandrel drum having aseries of circumferentially spaced, laterally projecting mandrelsthereon movable in a circumferential path of travel about an axis; meansmounted adjacent the drum presenting offset printing blanket means at aprinting station past which said mandrels move as the drum is rotated;means for supporting the container parts; transfer means mountedadjacent the circumferential path of travel of the mandrels fortransferring container parts between the mandrels and said supportmeans; said transfer means including an endless member mounted formovement in a path transverse to the circumferential path of travel, andat least one transfer member mounted on said endless member for pivotalmovement about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said drum;and control means for pivotally moving said transfer member about itsaxis while it moves in said endless path to transfer a container partaxially between one of said mandrels and said support means.
 37. Highspeed or decorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the likeincluding: a movable carrier having a series of spaced, laterallyprojecting container part receiving mandrels thereon movable in acurvilinear path of travel; mean mounted adjacent the carrier presentingoffset printing blanket means at a printing station past which saidmandrels move; means for supporting the container parts; transfer meansmounted adjacent the curvilinear path of travel of the mandrels fortransferring container parts between the mandrels and said support meansand including carrier means movable in a chordal path of travel relativeto said curvilinear path of travel; and also including conveying meansmounted on said carrier means for conveying the container parts betweenthe mandrels and the support means; and control means for causing theconveying means to follow a portion of the curvilinear path of themandrels and to also move the conveying means axiallY relative to themandrels.
 38. High speed printing or decorating apparatus for containerpart sidewalls and the like comprising: a rotary mandrel drum having aseries of spaced, laterally projecting container part receiving mandrelsthereon movable in a circumferential path of travel when the drum isrotated; means mounted adjacent the drum and presenting offset printingblanket means at a printing station past which said mandrels move whenthe drum is rotated; mandrel loader means to which container parts aresupplied mounted adjacent the circumferential path of travel of themandrels and including a carrier movable in a generally chordal path oftravel relative to said circumferential path and pusher means mounted onsaid carrier for engaging the end of a container part and moving itendwisely onto a mandrel; control means for the mandrel loader meanscausing the pusher means to follow a portion of the circumferential pathof the mandrels and at the same time move toward the mandrel drum topush container parts endwisely onto the mandrels upstream of theprinting station; mandrel unloader means mounted adjacent the path oftravel of the mandrels downstream of the printing station and includinga second carrier movable in a generally chordal path of travel relativeto said curvilinear path of travel and gripping means mounted on saidsecond carrier for gripping the printed container part; and controlmeans for the mandrel unloader means causing the gripping means tofollow a portion of the path of the mandrels while pulling containerparts endwisely off the ends of the mandrels.
 39. High speed printing ordecorating apparatus for container part sidewalls and the likecomprising: movable printing carrier means having a series of spacedperipherally disposed blanket means which it successively presents to aprinting station as the carrier means is moved; mandrel support meanshaving a series of rotatable mandrels which are adapted to receivecontainer parts thereon and are movable in a path toward and away fromthe printing station; means for applying printing ink to the leadingsection of each blanket means and for applying a transparent overcoatingmaterial, which dries faster than the printing ink, to the trailingsection of each blanket means; said trailing and leading sections beingaligned for movement in a common path of travel; means for loadingcontainer parts to the mandrels; means for maintaining each containerpart on a mandrel in engagement with one of said blanket means at theprinting station to rotate each container part supporting mandrelthrough more than one revolution as the container mounted thereon passesover both leading and trailing sections of the blanket means; and meansfor unloading the container parts after they are printed.
 40. High speedprinting or decorating apparatus for printing container part side wallsand the like including: a rotary mandrel drum having a series ofcircumferentially spaced, laterally projecting container part receivingmandrels thereon movable in a circumferential path when the drum isrotated; means presenting offset printing blanket means at a printingstation past which said mandrels move as the drum is rotated; mandrelloader means mounted opposite the circumferential path of travel of themandrels and at a spaced distance therefrom including a carrier memberand transfer means mounted on said carrier member for movement between aposition axially aligned with at least one of the mandrels and aposition axially nonaligned with said mandrels; container supply meansfor moving container parts to positions between said transfer means andsaid mandrel drum opposite the circumferential path traveled by themandrels on the mandrel drum; control means for the mandrel loader meanscausing the transfer means to move between said nonaligned and alignedpositions and at the same time move toward the mandrel drum to pushcontainer parts endwisely onto the mandrels upstream of the printingstation; and mandrel unloader means fOr unloading container parts fromthe mandrels downstream of the printing station; said container partsupply means including star wheel mechanism having spaced pockets intowhich container parts are individually transferred, conveyor meanssupplying said container parts in side-by-side relation, and endlesstransfer belt means disposed between said supply conveyor means and saidstar wheel mechanism and traveling at a rate of speed to separate acontainer part from am adjacent container part and load it to a pocketin the star wheel mechanism; the transfer belt means revolving thecontainer part in the same direction as the star wheel mechanism isrevolved.